Morrison Construction will begin work next week on the £45m River Findhorn and Pilmuir scheme at Forres, the last of Moray’s five major flood alleviation schemes.
Morrison won a £28 million contract for the construction part of the scheme, which was formally signed yesterday. The scheme, which will take two-and-a-half years to complete, will protect nearly 1000 homes and businesses from flooding.
Over the past three years flood alleviation projects have been completed at Lhanbryde, Rothes and on the Burn of Mosset in Forres, while work is continuing on the £86million flood scheme in Elgin.
Morrison, Galliford Try's Scottish business, was appointed Moray Council’s flood protection contractors in 2003 and has been responsible for building the other flood schemes. Royal HaskoningDHV and EC Harris, as well as Moray Council, have also worked on the £177 million Moray Flood Alleviation Scheme.
The whole scheme represents the biggest ever investment in flood protection in Scotland.
Historically, the River Findhorn has caused serious flooding on a number of occasions, the most recent in 1970. It is feared that another major flood event is already overdue.
In addition to other works, the latest scheme will involve raising the level of the A96 trunk road over a length of 400 metres to the west of Forres.
Councillor George Alexander, chairman of Moray Council’s flood alleviation sub-committee and a Forres ward member, said he was delighted the stage had been reached where work was about to begin.
“A great many people – and particularly those whose homes and businesses are most at risk – will also be hugely relieved,” he said.
“It may be more than 40 years since the River Findhorn last caused major flooding, but the threat is always there.
“The economic benefits of the scheme, set against the potential cost of damage that a serious flood would cause, are not in question and we all now look forward to the scheme progressing well and being completed on time and within budget.”
Galliford Try Chief Executive Greg Fitzgerald said:
"We are delighted to strengthen our relationship with The Moray Council by securing this important contract to deliver a fifth scheme through our existing construction partnering arrangement."
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